Page indexing system and apparatus for forming page shapes of system

ABSTRACT

A finger-operated page turning device for stacked sheets, with methods, apparatus for forming the device as sets offset voids or notches in alternating pages of a stack. The device is operated by simple movements of the thumb and/or fingers of a user&#39;s one hand while holding the stack in a curved configuration in the user&#39;s other hand. The apparatus includes rotary cutting machines for web sheet material, as well as both computer controlled and hand punches for individual sheets.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to an innovation in the shapes ofpages of documents, pages of books or other stacked paper whichfunctions in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingers and other partsof the human hand to facilitate the ease of quickly turning pages in astack of documents, one by one, without accidentally missing a page, andto apparatus for forming such shapes of the pages.

[0002] The process of turning pages in a stack of documents whilereading typically involves several common methods. One method is tothumb through the pages by grasping the stack of pages with the humanhand with the fingers under the stack pressing the underside of thestack upwardly causing the edge of the stack to come in contact with thethumb causing a fanning out of the pages for quick scanning and reading.While this method is good for quick scanning, some pages may sticktogether or simply move as a group causing the reader to accidentallymiss seeing some of the pages of the document. Another method of turningpages involves pealing back the edge of the top sheet of paper from thestack, sliding the hand under and turning the page by moving the handacross the pages in the stack. Since stacks of paper contain sheets ofgenerally thin and uniform size paper, it is possible to accidentallypeal back more than one sheet of paper from the stack and turn it bymoving the hand across the pages in the stack, causing the reader toaccidentally miss seeing one or more of the pages of the document.Another method of turning pages involves the wetting of the thumb orfingers to provide adhesion to the top page of a stack of documents. Theincreased friction of adhesion caused by wetting the fingers or thumballows the movement of a single sheet for turning by moving the handacross the pages in the stack, but this method also allows for theaccidental movement of more than one sheet of paper at a time, causingthe reader to accidentally miss seeing some of the pages of thedocument. Also, wetting the fingers which come in contact with the pagewith saliva causes discoloration, smearing, contamination anddeformation of the paper documents, especially if the fingers are dirty.

[0003] Apparatus for reconfiguring page sheets are known. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,323 to Smith discloses a sheet receiving andstacking apparatus for alternating the sheets of a stack in a face up,face down, face up . . . manner. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,268 toGilhula discloses a system of pressure sensitive adhesive strips addedto the edge of the paper to form index tabs. However, none of theapparatus of the prior art is believed to provide the features andadvantages of the present invention. In particular, the system ofGilhula is believed to be excessively expensive to operate in that theadhesive strips would be more costly than the sheets to which they areapplied, being impractical for application on every sheet of a stack forthis reason as well as for excessive bulkiness of the stack.

[0004] Thus there is a need for a system facilitating sequential and/orselective viewing of stacked sheets, and a way to alter sheets of astack to facilitate the viewing of the sheets, that is easy to use, andinexpensive to provide.

SUMMARY

[0005] The present invention meets this need by providing an indexingdevice wherein voids or notches that are formed at alternating locationsin successive flexible sheets, producing an innovative shape of thepaper which takes into account the functions of the thumb and/or fingersand other parts of the human hand to provide a new method of turningpages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, without accidentallymissing a page, without wetting a page and without moving the handacross the stack of documents (which would temporarily obscure view ofsuccessive pages on the stack). The invention also provides apparatusfor producing the innovative shape of the paper. In one aspect of theinvention, a hand operated sheet turning device includes a stack ofsheets of flexible material having a void or notch shape extendinginwardly from the edge of each sheet, the void or notch shapesalternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack, whereinthe alternating positions are spaced apart by a distance of betweenapproximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at acorresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger. The alternatingalignment can be of respective first and second sets of the voids ornotches, at least one of the first and second sets being preferablyformed with an outwardly beveled portion extending to the edge of thesheet opposite the other of the first and second sets for facilitatingclearance with the user's thumb.

[0006] The void/s or notch/s can be cut into the edge of a standard sizeof paper selected from the set consisting of executive, letter, legal,tabloid, A, A4, B, C, D, E and memo size paper. The void/s or notch/scan be cut into the edge of paper selected from the set consisting ofcopy paper, color copy paper, printer paper, printed paper, laser paper,colored laser paper, ink jet paper, colored ink jet paper, premium colorink jet paper, photo ink jet paper, specialty ink jet paper, fax paper,multipurpose paper, colored paper, computer paper, stationery, businessforms, loose leaf filler paper, paper rolls, design paper, specialtypaper, presentation paper, colored card stock, fine business paper, cardstock, poster stock, construction paper, drawing paper, watercolorpaper, satin design paper, tracing paper, newsprint, columnar paper,perforated paper, hole punched paper, silk paper, rag paper, carbonpaper, napkins, rice paper and art paper. The sheets of flexiblematerial can include photograph paper, proof sheets, transparency film,transparency protectors/sleeves, laminated sheets, sheet protectors,sheet sleeves, photographs, or a ledger.

[0007] The sheets of flexible material can be bound together along oneedge thereof, and the void or notch shapes are preferably located inspaced relation to the bound edge for free movement of sheet portionscontaining the void or notch shapes. The sheets of flexible material canbe located in a multiple ring binder as one or more of pages, dividers,pockets and pouches. The sheets of flexible material can be releasablyheld together by a self-stick substance. The sheets in the stackadditionally can have alternating void or notch shapes formed for eachchapter or alphabetical letter or section or division of the stack ofsheets.

[0008] The alternating void or notch shapes preferably have respectivefirst and second contours, the void or notch shapes of the first contourbeing aligned and the void or notch shapes of the second contour beingaligned in offset relation to those of the first contour forfacilitating tactile discrimination between even and odd sheets of thedevice. The first contour can include a generally semicircular arc andthe second contour can include a generally arcuate portion and agenerally angled enlargement portion extending away from the alignmentof the first contour for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.

[0009] In another aspect of the invention, an indexing system includesremoval of material from each sheet of stacked material to create a voidor notch cut inward from the edge of each sheet of the stacked materialwith alternating alignment on each successive sheet of stacked materialto form an indexing system which allows quick one by one separation orturning of each sheet without missing a sheet, wherein the alternatingalignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2 inches andapproximately 4 inches for engagement at a corresponding spacing betweena user's thumb and finger. The alternating alignment can be ofrespective first and second sets of the voids or notches, at least oneof the first and second sets being preferably formed with the outwardlybeveled portion for facilitating clearance with the user's thumb.

[0010] In a further aspect of the invention, a method for turning thepages of a stack of pages without missing a page, includes:

[0011] (a) providing the stack with material removed from each page ofthe stack to create a void or notch extending inwardly from the edge ofeach page with alternating alignment of the voids or notches on odd andeven pages, wherein the alternating alignment is at a spacing of betweenapproximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches;

[0012] (b) placing a thumb in the void or notch of one of an odd pageand an even of the stack and against the next page;

[0013] (c) turning the one page while holding the thumb or fingeragainst the next page;

[0014] (d) placing a finger in the void or notch of the next page of thestack and against a succeeding page;

[0015] (e) turning the next page while holding the finger against thesucceeding page;

[0016] (f) keeping the thumb in proximate alignment with void or notchalignment of one of the odd and even pages;

[0017] (g) keeping the finger in proximate alignment with the void ornotch alignment of the other of the odd and even pages; and

[0018] (h) alternatively releasing the thumb and the finger fromrespective next pages, thereby sequentially turning at least some of thepages of the stack without missing a page.

[0019] The method can further include using the thumb or finger in thevoid or notch to depress the next page through the void or notch; andhooking and/or lifting an edge portion of the void or notch. The turningcan include holding the stack of pages in a curved condition for urgingpage turning.

[0020] In yet a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus forforming the hand operated sheet turning device includes a feedermechanism for moving sheet material in a feed path; notch die mechanismincluding a die cutter and a die anvil, and means for periodicallyadvancing the die cutter into engagement with the die anvil fromopposite sides of the paper path; index means for registering a leadingedge of the sheet material at alternating offset distances ahead of thenotch die mechanism prior to successive operations of the notch diemechanism, whereby successive sheets are formed with alternatingalignment of the voids or notches therein.

[0021] The feeder mechanism can include first and second synchronizedand counter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notchdie mechanism can further include the die cutter being a first diecutter mounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first dieanvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement bythe first die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpartsecond die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentiallyspaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second dieanvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement bythe second die cutter; and the index means can include first and secondcutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum in respectivedifferent circumferentially advanced relations to the first and seconddie cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mountedtransversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by thefirst and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums,whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs ofsheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids ornotches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair inthe successive rotations of the drums. The notch die mechanism canfurther include counterparts of the first and second die cutters mountedin axially spaced relation on the first drum, and counterparts of thefirst and second die anvils being correspondingly mounted in axiallyspaced relation on the second drum for forming counterpart voids ornotches along opposite side edges of the sheet material; the apparatusfurther including a means for longitudinally folding formed sheets toform nested pairs of pages. The feeder mechanism can include first andsecond paper trays at opposite sides of the feed path, the first papertray being adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form ofstacked sheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentiallyreceiving sheets from the feed path; and means synchronized with thenotch die mechanism for sequentially advancing a top sheet from thefirst paper tray into the feed path; and the index means can include astop mechanism coupled to the notch die mechanism for periodicallyblocking leading edges of alternating sheets at different distancesbeyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanism.

[0022] The means for advancing of the feeder mechanism can include asuction cup mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the first papertray between a first position proximate a top stacked sheet and a secondposition laterally displaced from the first paper tray and aligned withthe feed path, in synchronism with the notch die mechanism; and a sourceof intermittent vacuum synchronized with the notch die mechanism andfluid coupled to the suction cup, the vacuum being applied in the firstposition of the suction cup and released in the second position of thesuction cup. The feeder mechanism can include first and second papertrays at opposite extremities of the feed path, the first paper traybeing adapted for receiving the sheet material in the form of stackedsheets, the second paper tray being adapted for sequentially receivingsheets from the feed path; and means for sequentially advancing a topsheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and the index meanscan include a control mechanism for positioning and holding successivesheets in the feed path with leading edges thereof at differentpredetermined distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notchdie mechanism prior to successive operations thereof. The feedermechanism can include first and second synchronized and counter-rotatingdrums on opposite sides of the feed path; the notch die mechanism canfurther include the die cutter being a first die cutter mounted on thefirst drum and the die anvil being a first die anvil being mounted onthe second drum in registration for engagement by the first die cutterin successive rotations of the drums, a counterpart second die cutterbeing mounted on the first drum in circumferentially spaced relation tothe first die cutter, and a counterpart second die anvil being mountedon the second drum in registration for engagement by the second diecutter; and the index means can include first and second cutter bladesmounted transversely on the first drum in respective differentcircumferentially advanced relations to the first and second diecutters, and respective first and second cutter anvils mountedtransversely on the second drum in registration for engagement by thefirst and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of the drums,whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairs ofsheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids ornotches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair inthe successive rotations of the drums. The die cutter and anvil can be afirst die cutter and anvil for producing the first contour of the voidor notch shapes, the apparatus preferably also including a second diecutter and anvil for producing the second, different contour of the voidor notch shapes for facilitating the tactile discrimination between evenand odd sheets of the device. The first contour can include thesemicircular arc and the second contour can include the generallyarcuate and angled portions for facilitating passage of the user'sthumb.

[0023] In yet a further aspect of the invention, a tool for forming thehand operated sheet turning device includes a hand-operated punch anddie for forming respective ones of the void or notch shapes; and a stopmechanism for locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respectivedifferent distances beyond the void or notch shapes formed by the punchand die. The stop mechanism can include first and second stop membersfor locating leading edges of alternating sheets at respective differentdistances beyond the punch and die. The first and second stop memberscan be movably mounted on a scale member having indicia thereon forshowing respective distances between the stop members and the punch anddie. The punch and die can be a first punch and die unit, the devicefurther including a second hand operated punch and die unit laterallyspaced from the first punch and die, the stop mechanism comprising astop member located at a first distance from the first punch and die andat a second distance from the second punch and die, the differencebetween the first and second distances being the lateral spacing betweenthe first and second punches and dies. The stop member can be movablymounted relative to the first and second punch and die units on a scalemember having indicia thereon for showing a relative distance betweenthe stop member and the punch and die units. The punch and die units canalso be formed for producing the first and second contours of the voidor notch shapes for facilitating tactile discrimination between even andodd sheets of the device. The first contour can include the generallysemicircular arc and the second contour can include the generallyarcuate and angled enlargement portions for facilitating passage of theuser's thumb.

[0024] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a process forconverting respective sets of sheets having voids or notches formedinwardly from each page into a device for one by one separation orturning of each sheet without missing a sheet, the sheets of each sethaving the notches or voids in matching configurations and offset fromthe notches or voids of the sheets not included in the same set. Theprocess includes (a) providing a first supply of sheets of a first setof the sheets; (b) providing a second supply of sheets of a second setof the sheets; (c) advancing an nth sheet from the first supply in afeed path; (d) advancing an nth+1 sheet from the second supply intostacked relation to one surface of the nth sheet; (e) advancing an nth+2sheet from the first supply into stacked relation to the nth+1 sheetopposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating (d) and (e) with n incrementedby two in each instance for completing the device as a stack of sheetshaving the void or notch shapes alternating in position with eachsuccessive sheet in the stack. The first and second supplies of sheetscan include respective first and second stacks of sheets, the advancingof the nth and nth+2 sheets including moving the sheets from one end ofthe first stack, and the advancing of the nth+1 sheet can include movingthe sheets from an opposite end of the second stack.

DRAWINGS

[0025] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:

[0026]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of documents in the handsof a reader showing an improvement in the shape of the paper;

[0027]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the document stack of FIG. 1showing the movement of finger or thumb into a void or notch provided inthe top sheet of paper which allows the top sheet of paper to move awayfrom the stack;

[0028]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the document stack of FIG. 1showing the top sheet of paper moved away from the stack;

[0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the document stack of FIG. 1showing the movement of finger or thumb into a non-aligned void or notchin the second sheet of paper which allows the second sheet of paper tomove away from the stack;

[0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the document stack of FIG. 1showing the movement of finger or thumb into a non-aligned void or notchin the third sheet of paper which allows the third sheet of paper tomove away from the stack;

[0031]FIG. 6 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1, showing the user'sthumb and index finger positioned at respective notch locations ofsuccessive sheets, the index finger being in the void or notch of thetop sheet of paper;

[0032]FIG. 7 is a perspective view as in FIG. 2, showing the top sheethaving been released by temporary retraction of the user's thumb, thethumb having been returned to within the notch location of the secondsheet as the second sheet is restrained by the index finger remaining atthe location previously occupied by the notch of the top sheet;

[0033]FIG. 8 is a plan view of sheets of material in a stack fanned outto reveal alternating void or notch shapes formed in each sheet;

[0034]FIG. 9 is a plan view as in FIG. 8, showing the alternating voidsor notches formed on different edges of the sheets;

[0035]FIG. 10 is a plan view as in FIG. 8, showing an alternativearrangement of the voids or notches;

[0036]FIG. 11 is a plan view as in FIG. 8, showing the voids or notchesformed on different edges of the sheets;

[0037]FIG. 12 is a plan view as in FIG. 8, showing an alternativearrangement of the voids or notches;

[0038]FIG. 13 is a plan view as in FIG. 12, showing the voids or notchesformed on different edges of the sheets;

[0039]FIG. 14 is a plan view as in FIG. 8, showing an alternativearrangement of the voids or notches;

[0040]FIG. 15 is a plan view as in FIG. 14, showing the voids or notchesformed on different edges of the sheets;

[0041]FIG. 16 is a plan view of sheets of material in a stack fanned outto reveal alternating void or notch shapes formed on plural edges ofeach sheet;

[0042]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a cutting machine for producingstacked sheets having alternating voids or notches according to thepresent invention from a web of sheet material;

[0043]FIG. 18 is a perspective partially phantom view of a machine forproducing alternating voids or notches in stacked sheets according tothe present invention;

[0044]FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a process of interleavingodd and even notched sheets according to the present invention;

[0045]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a hand-operated punch forproducing the alternatingly aligned voids or notches;

[0046]FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a machine for producing aprogrammed sequence of alternating voids or notches in stacked sheets;

[0047]FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an alternative configurationof the hand-operated punch of FIG. 20; and

[0048]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a process of interleaving pairsof sheets having alternating voids or notches using an alternativeconfiguration of the cutting machine of FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present invention is directed to an indexing system or devicefor viewing successive flexible sheets of a stack using an innovativeshape of the paper which takes into account the functions of the thumband/or fingers and other parts of the human hand in a new method ofturning pages in a stack of documents quickly, one by one, withoutaccidentally missing a page, without wetting a page and without havingto move the hand across the stack of documents; and to apparatus forhigh speed modification of the sheets to provide the innovative shapes.With reference to FIGS. 1-16 of the drawings, a sheet turning device 10facilitating a new method of turning pages utilizes an improvement ofthe typically rectangular or square sheets of paper that make up stacksof paper or documents. The improvement relates to a change in the shapeof the rectangular or square sheets that allows for the finger and/orthumb and the other parts of the human hand to function together to turnthe pages as described herein.

[0050] One preferred embodiment of the method uses a generallyrectangular or square sheet of paper with the formation of a void ornotch 21 cut into the edge of the generally rectangular or square sheetof paper. This sheet with a void or notch would be the top sheet 1 of astack of like sheets. The next sheet 2 of like paper under the top sheetwould have a void or notch 22 positioned out of alignment with the voidor notch 21 in the top sheet. Subsequent sheets in the stack would benumbered 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . up to the total number of sheets in the stack.The void or notch 21 in sheet number 1 would align with the void ornotch in all sheets in the stack having odd numbers such as 1, 3, 5, 7 .. . . The void or notch 22 in sheet number 2 would align with the voidor notch in all the sheets in the stack having even numbers such as 2,4, 6, 8 . . . . Placing the thumb or finger in the void or notch ofsheet 1 of the stack of sheets would make it possible to turn sheet 1while keeping a thumb of finger on sheet 2, thereby stopping sheet 2from being turned with sheet 1. When sheet 1 is turned, the void ornotch on sheet 2 is exposed. A finger or thumb is placed in the void ornotch in sheet 2 allowing sheet 2 to be turned while leaving a finger orthumb on sheet 3 so it cannot be turned with sheet 2. By alternating theplacement of finger and/or thumb on the void or notch of each sheet ofodd, then even, then odd, then even, then odd, then even, pages can bequickly turned with complete control of each page without missing anypages in the stack.

[0051] For example, FIG. 1 shows the device 10 with a spine portion 12thereof supported by a user's left hand 14, the users right hand 16holding the sheets deflected in a curved configuration with a digit suchas the thumb 18 of the right hand restraining the pages from turning.More particularly, the thumb 18 is displaced from the void or notch 21of sheet 1, preventing sheet 1 from turning. FIG. 2 shows the thumb 18moved to a position against sheet 2 formerly occupied by the void ornotch 21 of sheet 1, sheet 1 being released and turning as a result ofthe notch 21 passing the thumb 18, sheet 2 being stopped from turning bythe thumb 18. FIG. 3 shows sheet 1 turned or moved away from the stack,exposing facing portions of sheets 1 and 2 for reading without requiringthe hand 16 to move across the pages being exposed while turning a page.FIG. 4 shows the thumb 18 moving into the notch 22 of sheet 2, releasingand allowing turning of sheet 2. Thus facing portions of sheets 2 and 3are exposed for reading, again without requiring the hand 16 to moveacross the pages being exposed. FIG. 5 shows the thumb 18 moving intothe void or notch 23 of sheet 3, releasing sheet 3 to turn or move awayfrom the stack, other subsequent pages being turned in sequence by acontinuation of this process. Preferably the voids or notches of the oddsheets are aligned, in displaced relation to those of the even sheets,being likewise aligned.

[0052]FIGS. 6 and 7 show a particularly advantageous method forsequentially turning the pages of the device 10 being configured withthe voids or notches of the odd pages being uniformly displaced fromthose of the even pages by a distance S being a spacing between thethumb 18 and a finger 19 of the user's hand 16.

[0053] Appropriate marks, including but not limited to page numbersand/or chapter numbers, are preferably applied to pages so as to bevisible through the void or notch shape cuts. Also, in order to avoiddifficulty locating the void or notch shape cut on the edge of a sheet,suitable means for differentiating the void or notch shape at the edgeof the sheet by a visual and/or tactile identification of the shape.Thus a visual mark can be placed near and/or on the edge of each sheetwhich alternates position, color, and/or shape with each successivesheet in a stack of sheets making the void or notch more readilyvisible. The marks serve as guides for where to press and flip, enablingeasier and quicker visual and/or tactile identification of theappropriate void or notch for sheet turning.

[0054] If a page is removed from the stack, regardless of whether an oddor even numbered sheet, the pattern of alternating void or notchlocations would be interrupted and the voids or notches of the doubleodd or double even sheets would line up causing a condition where thetwo double odd or double even sheets could move together causing someinformation on the second sheet of the double odd or double even to bemissed. The present invention also contemplates partially or completelycovering the void or notch in the second sheet of the double odd ordouble even sheets, thereby causing the first and second sheets of thedouble odd or double even sheets to be separated for viewing each sheetwithout missing a sheet.

[0055] Referring to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown inFIG. 1 a unique shape of the paper which functions in cooperation withthe thumb and/or fingers and the other parts of the human hand toprovide a one by one page turning action without missing a page. FIG. 2shows the movement or turning of the top sheet of the stack whichexposes the second sheet of the stack. The location of the finger orthumb in the void or notch created by the improvement to the shape ofthe sheet allows the movement or turning of the top sheet but stops themovement or turning of the second sheet in the stack. FIG. 3 illustrateshow the movement or turning of the top sheet reveals that the secondsheet in the stack also has a void or notch improvement in the shape ofthe sheet. The void or notch in the second sheet is out of alignmentwith the void or notch in the top sheet. FIG. 4 illustrates theplacement of the finger or thumb in the void or notch of the secondsheet in the stack and the removal of the finger or thumb from where thevoid or notch was when the top sheet was still in place, which allowsthe movement or turning of the second sheet in the stack while themovement or turning of the third sheet in the stack is stopped. FIG. 5illustrates the top sheet and the second sheet of the stack aftermovement or turning from the stack and the placement of the finger orthumb in the void or notch of the third sheet which allows the movementor turning of the third sheet in the stack while the movement or turningof the fourth sheet is stopped.

[0056]FIG. 6 shows the user's finger 19 placed in the void or notch ofone sheet of a stack being held in a curved condition by the left hand14, the user's thumb 18 preventing the first sheet from turning, thethumb 18 being spaced a comfortable distance from the finger 19 andaligned at the spacing S from the finger 19 with the underlying notch orvoid of the second sheet as depicted in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 also shows thefirst sheet having been released by the thumb 18, which has beenreturned to its previous position while the finger 19 continues torestrain the second sheet. Thus the pages can be easily and reliablyturned one-by-one simply by alternatingly lifting the thumb 18 and thefinger 19 while maintaining both in alignment with respective sets ofthe alternating voids or notches of the odd and even sheets of the stack12. More particularly, page turning proceeds with placing a thumb in thevoid or notch of one of an odd page and an even of the stack and againstthe next page; turning the one page while holding the thumb or fingeragainst the next page; placing a finger in the void or notch of the nextpage of the stack and against a succeeding page; turning the next pagewhile holding the finger against the succeeding page; keeping the thumbin proximate alignment with void or notch alignment of one of the oddand even pages; keeping the finger in proximate alignment with the voidor notch alignment of the other of the odd and even pages; andalternatively releasing the thumb and the finger from respective nextpages, thereby sequentially turning at least some of the pages of thestack without missing a page.

[0057]FIG. 8 shows the alternating shape improvements where the oddsheets align with each other. The even sheets align with each other. Theodd numbered shape improvements do not align with the even numberedshape improvements. FIG. 9 shows a left-handed version of theright-handed embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 shows theaddition of voids or notches that provide an alternating chapter oralphabetical letter or section or division of a stack of sheets. FIG. 11is a left-handed version of the right-handed embodiment illustrated inFIG. 10. FIG. 12 shows alternative placement locations for the shapeimprovements. FIG. 13 is a left-handed version of the right-handedembodiment illustrated in FIG. 12. It is contemplated that the void ornotch shape improvements can be located on any edge and/or side of thesheets of material. FIG. 14 shows the alternating void or notch shapeslocated in multiple places along the edges of the sheets of material.FIG. 15 is a left-handed version of the right-handed embodimentillustrated in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 shows the alternating void or notchshape improvements located in multiple places along multiple edges ofthe sheets of material. It is further contemplated that the void ornotch shape improvements can be located near or on any corner, and/oranywhere along the top, bottom or sides of the sheets of material. Themethod and variations thereof described above also allow the sheets ofthe stack under the void or notch to be pushed downward so the edge ofthe void or notch can be hooked and/or lifted and turned over with apress and flip motion of the user's hand. These are examples of severalof the preferred sheet configurations to be provided by the presentinvention, it being understood that the invention is not limited toproviding the examples illustrated.

[0058] With further reference to FIGS. 17-23, the present invention alsoencompasses variant forming means, including but not limited to cutting,drilling and/or punching, to produce inward from the edge of each sheetat least one void or notch shape cut which alternates position with eachsuccessive sheet in a stack of sheets which results in a productcomprising a stack of sheets with shape improvements that allow theindexing function. The apparatus can function independently or beunified with a printer, copier, fax machine, or any other machinedealing with paper or flexible material.

[0059] More particularly, FIG. 17 illustrates a sheet material cuttingmachine 40 that creates one embodiment of the sheet turning device 10from advancing sheet material 41. Although any size of sheet of materialis covered by this innovation, standard letter size paper would be aproper representative sample for illustrative purposes. The exemplaryform of the machine 40 shown in FIG. 17 includes acounter-clockwise-rotating (CCW) drum 42 having a CCW axle 43 rotatingin a support frame 44. Similarly, a clockwise (CW) drum 46 having a CWaxle 47 is rotatably supported in a pair of carriers 48 that slidablyengage respective main channels 50 and an alignment channels 51 of thesupport frame 44, the CW drum 46 being biased against the CCW drum 42 bya pair of springs 52. Thus the material 41 is squeezed and advancedbetween the drums 42 and 46 as they rotate against each other, relativealignment of the drums being further effected by an alignment screw 54that threadingly engages one or both of the frame 44 and the carrier 48.It will be understood that precise alignment of the drums 42 and 46 canbe by any suitable means known to those skilled in the web-printing art.

[0060] As the CCW and CW drums 42 and 46 rotate, an even sheet cutterblade 56 of the CCW drum 42 slices the advancing sheet material 41against an even cutter anvil 57 of the CW drum 46, thereby defining atransverse sheet edge, an even sheet die cutter 58 of the drum 42 and aneven die anvil 59 of the CW drum 46 subsequently forming a notch at apredetermined distance from the previously formed transverse sheet edge.During further rotation of the drums 42 and 46, an odd sheet cutterblade 60 of the CCW drum 42 (opposite the even blade 56) slices thematerial 41 against an odd cutter anvil 61 of the CW drum 46, separatinga sheet from the material 41 and forming a counterpart transverse edgeof the material 41, an odd sheet die cutter 62 of the CCW drum 42 and anodd die anvil of the CW drum 46 forming a counterpart notch at adifferent predetermined distance from the newly formed transverse edgeof the material 41, the difference in the predetermined distancescorresponding to the spacing S of odd and even sheet voids or notches 21et seq. The drums 42 and 46 are driven in synchronization with eachother, the CCW drum 42 having a CCW gear 64 rotating therewith, in meshwith a CW gear 65 of the CW drum 46 to maintain precise cutteralignment, the alignment being slightly adjustable by means of theabove-described adjustment screw 54.

[0061] An air vacuum device 66 is connected for sucking die-cut wastepaper through a vacuum tube 68 that is aligned for receiving such wasteproximate the path of the die anvils 59 and 63 downstream of thecontacting regions of the drums 42 and 46.

[0062] As further shown in FIG. 17, an odd sheet 70 being formed by themachine 40 and having an odd void or notch 72 is further advanced by apair of exit rollers 74, a presently formed even sheet 76 having an evenvoid or notch 78 falling onto a previously formed odd sheet 80 having anodd void or notch 82. These sheets are stacked on other previouslyformed sheets, an even sheet 84 having an even void or notch 86, etc.Thus the even voids or notches 78 and 86 are out of alignment withinterleaved odd voids or notches 82 and 88.

[0063] A drive gear 90 that engages the CW gear 65 is powered by a motor92 for driving the drums 42 and 46, the exit rollers 74 being suitablypowered by any suitable means (not shown) for clearing the severedsheets from the drums 42 and 46 and forming the stack of completedsheets. The sheet material 41 is maintained in lateral alignment by anysuitable means such as alignment rollers engaging opposite side edges ofthe material 41, one such roller being shown in FIG. 17 at 94.

[0064] With particular reference to FIG. 18, a notching machine 100 isconfigured for forming the device 10 from stacked precut sheets. A startbutton 102 of this machine operates a switch lever 103 for closing amomentary-on power switch 104, thereby activating a suitable motor (notshown) to cause a motor shaft 106 to rotate an eccentric cam 107 thatengages a slot 108 of an arm 109 for reciprocal movement thereof, thearm being linearly guided by a pair of guide pins 110. Initially, themovement of the arm 109 displaces a die punch 112 to an open positionrelative to a die anvil 113, and also causing an actuator arm 114 topivot on an actuator pin 115, the arm 114 having a suction cup 116 at anupper extremity thereof. Also, the actuator arm 114 slideably engages adrive pin 117, pivoting a bottom arm 118 on a bottom pivot 119, a lowerextremity of the bottom arm 118 thereby displacing a bellows pivot 120that engages a bellows plate 121 for expanding a bellows 122. Thebellows 122 is fluid-coupled through a nipple 123 and a vacuum tube 124to the suction cup 116 so as to clampingly attract a single sheet 126from an upper stack 128 of precut sheets as the suction cup 116 isbrought into contact with the stack, a leading portion 130 of the sheetbeing directed toward a contoured gate member 132 as the suction cupmoves away from the stack as shown in FIG. 18. At the same time, themovement of the actuator arm 114 is reversed, causing the single sheet126 to be released as the bellows 121 blows instead of sucking as theeccentric cam 107 further rotates to cause the change of motion.

[0065] The released single sheet 126 of paper then falls by gravitythrough the mouth of the die punch 112 and anvil 113 and onto analternating height paper stop 136, the stop being pivoted into its upperposition as indicated at 134 in FIG. 18, the sheet 126 being cut by thepunch 112 to form a void or notch as described above (even). A nextpiece of paper from the upper stack 128 is similarly fed, but with thepaper stop 136 being pivoted to a lower stop position 142 by aneccentric control link 138. The link 138 is coupled between a linkcoupling 140 that projects from the paper stop 136 and a rotating camgear 172 that is driven at half-speed by a counterpart of the drive gear90 that rotates with the motor shaft 106, the cam gear 172 having anopposed pair of notches 144 formed thereon for engagement by a rollerfollower tip 174 of the switch lever 103. The switch lever 103 operatesthe power switch 104 as described above for powering the motor from awall transformer 170 that is coupled through a power cord 178. Thecombination of the start button 102, the switch lever 103, the powerswitch 104, and the cam gear 172, provides that the machine 100 runscontinuously until the button 102 is released, the machine stopping at 0or 180 degree positions of the cam gear 172 when the button 102 isreleased.

[0066] Thus the eccentric control link 138 pivots the paper stop 136 toproject into the upper stop position 134 for one rotation of the motorshaft 106 and to occupy the lower stop position 142 for the nextrotation of the motor shaft 106, and repeating thereafter to produce analternating pattern of stopping the paper at different heights for eachcut of the die punch 112. A vertically spaced pair of guide bars 148 arelocated above and below the lower stop position of the paper stop 136,the guide bars 148 and a lower extremity of the upper tray serving tofend the leading sheet portions from retracing portions of the paperstop 136, thereby facilitating gravity feed of the single sheets 126.

[0067] A refuse chute 156 directs punched scrap 157 into a refusecollection bin 158. Also, the upper stack 128 is supported in an uppertray 168 having a shelf 160 and an extendable upper support extension162, the support extension having a handle 164 that projects upwardlyand rearwardly from a barb 166 that defines a lower travel limitrelative to the upper tray 168.

[0068] After the single sheets 126 are die cut to form the voids ornotches 21, etc., in proper alternating position, they fall to a lowershelf 150 as indicated at 152, forming a lower stack 154 of the sheets,the lower stack 154 being in the same order and orientation as the upperstack 128. The completed lower stack 154 is removable from the machine100 by withdrawal upwardly and forwardly from the lower shelf 150. Diecut sheet refuse from the die punch 112 slid down a refuse chute 156into a refuse collection bin 158 for disposal and recycling.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 19, the device 10 of the present invention canbe produced in a sheet conversion process 180, which is contemplated tobe performed either manually or with suitable commercially availableequipment. In an exemplary form, the process 180 includes providing aneven sheet stack 182 having even spaced voids or notches 183 alignedtherein, and a separate odd sheet stack 184 having odd spaced voids ornotches 185 aligned therein. An even sheet 188 having an even void ornotch 189 is withdrawn and advanced from the even sheet stack 182, andan odd sheet 190 having an odd void or notch is withdrawn from the oddsheet stack and advanced below the even sheet 188, but above an evenmoving sheet 194 having been previously fed from the even sheet stack.The even moving sheet 194 itself is moved over a yet previously fed oddmoving sheet 196, in a stream of alternating sheets which is fed ontoand forming a counterpart of the sheet turning device of the presentinvention, designated 198 in FIG. 19. In the exemplary form of theprocess 180 shown in FIG. 19, even sheets are fed from the bottom of theeven sheet stack 182 whereas odd sheets are fed from the top of the oddsheet stack 184. It will be understood that the relationship of thestacks can be reversed, and further that the feeding can be from eitherthe top or bottom of both stacks; moreover, the stack forming the sheetturning device 198 can be fed from the bottom rather than the top. Inany case, the process 180 facilitates utilization of sheet stacks 182and 184 having the respective voids or notches formed therein by punchor shear operations on the stacks as a whole. More generally, the sheetsbeing used do not have to be stacked initially, but may rather be setsof sheets from any respective forming operations that produce the voidsor notches voids or notches 183 and 185. Additionally, there may also bemore than two sets of the sheets. Thus the sheets of each set have thenotches or voids in matching configurations and offset from the notchesor voids of the sheets not included in the same set, and the process canbe characterized as (a) providing a first supply of sheets of a firstset of the sheets; (b) providing a second supply of sheets of a secondset of the sheets; (c) advancing an nth sheet from the first supply in afeed path; (d) advancing an nth+1 sheet from the second supply intostacked relation to one surface of the nth sheet; (e) advancing an nth+2sheet from the first supply into stacked relation to the nth+1 sheetopposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating (d) and (e) with n incrementedby two in each instance for completing the device as a stack of sheetshaving the void or notch shapes alternating in position with eachsuccessive sheet in the stack. In the above sequence, “In” is a numberthat represents particular sheets of the device 10 being formed in theprocess 180.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 20 a hand punch 200 provides a low costalternative to the notching machine 40. The punch 200 includes astationary edge guide 210 and a coplanar moving (pivoting) edge guide212 for alignment of sheets to be punched. A first slidable block 214has a first stop edge 216 for registration of alternating (even, forexample) sheets, the block 214 being identified such as with the indicia“A” in FIG. 20. The block 214 is slidably supported on an integrallyformed continuation of the stationary edge guide 210, which has scaleindicia 215 formed thereon to facilitate repeatable positioning of theblock 214. A thumb grip 218 is also integrally formed with thestationary edge guide 210, the hand punch 200 being held in the hand inthe manner of scissors, a finger grip 220 and a hand grip 222 beingintegrally formed with the moving edge guide 212, which is pivotablyconnected to the stationary edge guide 210 at a fulcrum 24. The movingedge guide 212 forms a cutter arm 226 having a die punch 228 formedthereon, the punch 222 being closed against a die anvil 230, the anvil230 being integrally formed with the stationary edge guide 210, bysqueezing of the finger and hand grips 220 and 222 toward the thumb grip218 for forming a void or notch by cutting a waste paper blank 232 fromeach successive sheet being cut by the hand punch 200. The blanks 232form a waste stack 234 in a waste container 236 that is removablysupported under the stationary edge guide 210 by a connector 238.

[0071] A second slidable block 240 having a second stop edge 242 (andbeing identified with the indicia “B”) is also slidably supported on thecontinuation of the stationary edge guide 210 for registration ofalternating (odd) sheets to be punched. Advantageously, the sheets to bepunched are aligned on opposite sides of the die cutter 228 and anvil230 against the stationary and moving edge guides 210 and 212, beingconveniently positioned for alternating alignment of the voids ornotches to be formed by alternate engagement of the sheets against thefirst and second stop edges 216 and 242 of the first and second slidableblocks 214 and 240. It will be understood that the blocks 214 and 240incorporate suitable spring members (not shown) for frictionallyretaining same as positioned by the user. Similarly, another springmember (not shown) can be coupled between the stationary edge guide 210and the moving edge guide 212 for biasing the hand punch 200 toward theopen condition shown in FIG. 20. It will be understood that the handpunch 200 of FIG. 20 has a non-symmetrical (right-handed) configuration,and that an opposite (left-handed) configuration is also contemplatedwithin the scope of the present invention.

[0072]FIG. 21 shows an alternative configuration of the notching machineof FIG. 18, designated notching machine 250, that provides programmedpositioning of the voids or notches being formed in stacked sheets whichcan be of large format (in either landscape orientation as indicated at251 or portrait orientation as indicated at 252). The machine 250includes a paper tray 254, a tray shelf 256 outwardly projecting from alower extremity of the tray 254, which also has a series of verticallyoriented alignment rules 258 and a measurement scale 260 forfacilitating positioning of the paper stacks 251 and 252. A papersupport edge 262 is also extendable above the paper tray 254 on a trayextension 264.

[0073] A vertically oriented alignment guide 266 projects from a diecutter head 268 that is horizontally adjustable along a cutter track270, the guide 266 being positioned against the left side of thelandscape stack 251 or the portrait stack 252 as the case may be(positioning against the stack 252 being shown in FIG. 21). A pluralityof computer controlled primary advance rollers 272 are coaxiallysupported in horizontally adjustable locations between the alignmentguide 266 and the right side of the paper tray 254 for feeding singlesheets from the stack 252 (or 251) and controllably advancing same alongthe alignment guide 266. With the leading edges of each sheet positionedto predetermined positions beyond the die cutter head 268, the cutterhead is activated to cut the above-described void or notch therefrom.Computer control of the predetermined positions is provided usingmethods that are well within the ordinary skill of those in the computercontrol arts. After cutting, a pair of secondary advance rollers 274 maybe used for clearing the sheets from the die cutter head 268 and feedingsame onto a face-up, ordered sheet stack 276 ready for removal from thefront of the machine 250. It will be understood that plural voids ornotches can be formed in selected sheets under computer control forfacilitating rapid turning of sheets to chapter headings and the like asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0074]FIG. 22 shows an alternative configuration of the hand punch ofFIG. 20, designated 300, includes a base or body 301 for axiallyslidably supporting a first die button 302 and a second die button 304at a fixed spacing (the spacing S of FIGS. 7 and 8, for example). Thebuttons 302 and 304 are spring loaded for movement out of engagementwith respective first and second die anvils 306 and 308. An alignmentscale 310 having a corner stop 312 is also slidably supported by thebody 301 for alignment of a first paper sheet 314, a next sheet 316,etc., in space between the die buttons 302 and 304 and the respectivedie anvils 306 and 308, the scale 310 having an elongate clearanceopening 318 for permitting adjustment of the scale relative to the body301 for a predetermined offset distance from the corner stop 312 and avoid or notch 320 to be cut in the first sheet 314 by the first diebutton 302 (in correspondence with the distance B of FIG. 8). The body301 is provided with suitable means (not shown) for frictionallyengaging an engagement surface 322 of the scale 310 to yieldably holdsame in fixed relation to the body 301.

[0075] In operation, the first die button 302 is operated with firstsheet 314 registered against the scale 310 and the corner stop 312thereof, and the second die button 304 is operated with the first sheet314 replaced by the next sheet 316, the process being repeated forsubsequent pairs of sheets.

[0076] As shown in various ones of the drawings, and in particular FIG.22, the respective voids or notches formed in the device 10 of thepresent invention may be differently shaped. For example, the void ornotch 320 of the first sheet 314 is generally semi-circular, the firstdie button 302 being marked correspondingly. On the contrary, the seconddie button 304 is marked for forming an arcuate/beveled void or notch321 in the next sheet 316, the different shapes of the voids or notchesfacilitating operation of the sheet turning device 10 of the presentinvention by functioning in cooperation with the thumb and/or fingersand other parts of the human hand to facilitate the ease of quicklyturning pages in a stack of documents one by one, without accidentallymissing a page. The different shapes of the voids or notches alsofacilitate operation of the sheet turning device 10 of the presentinvention by permitting tactile discrimination between the voids ornotches present in respective even and odd sheets of the device 10. Thisfeature of the present invention is available in the embodiments ofFIGS. 17, 19, 22, and 23 (described below). Further, the notchingmachine 250 of FIG. 21 can also cut different shapes by providing thedie cutter head 268 with plural punch and die sets having the differentshapes. The computer control would utilize appropriate separate offsetdistances to the respective die sets in registering the correspondingsheets to be punched. Alternatively, separate in-line die cutter headswould incorporate the differently shaped punch and die sets.

[0077]FIG. 23 shows a process 330 for forming folded pairs of sheetsusing an alternative configuration of the cutting machine of FIG. 17,designated 340. The cutting machine 340 has counterparts of the CCW drumand axle, designated 342 and 342, and of the CW drum and axle,designated 344 and 346, but with die cutters and anvils at opposite endsthereof for forming respective voids or notches along opposite edges ofa double-wide web of sheet material. As the drums 342 and 344 rotate, aneven sheet 348 is cut from the web as described above, convexly andconcavely beveled counterparts of the exit rollers, designated 350,progressively fold the sheet 348 to form a pair of pages. In similarmanner as described above, the exit rollers 350 also feed the even sheet348 in a path behind and over an odd sheet 352, another even sheet 354having voids or notches 356 formed therein that are out of alignmentwith those of a previous odd sheet 358 that is identical to the oddsheet 352, etc., onto a folded sheet stack 360, thereby forming acounterpart of the sheet turning device 10 of the present invention.

[0078] Although the present invention has been described in considerabledetail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, otherversions are possible. For example, the notching machine 100 of FIG. 18can be provided with means for maintaining continuous operation withouthaving to keep pressing the start button 102, such as by including atoggle mechanism coupled between the button and the switch lever 103, orby using an electrical switch wired in parallel with the power switch104, preferably with the inclusion of a suitable paper-out interlock forterminating operation once a full stack is processed.

[0079] The notching machine 250 of FIG. 21 can have the secondaryadvance rollers configured as the exit rollers 350 of the cuttingmachine 350 of FIG. 23, the machine 250 incorporating guide 266, and thedie counterparts of the alignment guide 266, and the die cutter head 268to form folded pairs of pages from the single sheets. Also, the machinesof FIGS. 17, 18, 21, and 23 can include printing heads for combiningcutting and printing functions. Therefore, the spirit and scope of theappended claims Should not necessarily be limited to the description ofthe Preferred versions contained herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hand operated sheet turning device comprising astack of sheets of flexible material having a void or notch shapeextending inwardly from the edge of each sheet, the void or notch shapesalternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack, whereinthe alternating positions are spaced apart by a distance of betweenapproximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at acorresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger.
 2. The systemof claim 1 wherein the alternating alignment is of respective first andsecond sets of the voids or notches, at least one of the first andsecond sets being formed with an outwardly beveled portion extending tothe edge of the sheet opposite the other of the first and second setsfor facilitating clearance with the user's thumb.
 3. The device of claim1 wherein the void/s or notch/s is/are cut into the edge of a standardsize of paper selected from the set consisting of executive, letter,legal, tabloid, A, A4, B, C, D, E and memo size paper.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the void/s or notch/s is/are cut into the edge of paperselected from the set consisting of copy paper, color copy paper,printer paper, printed paper, laser paper, colored laser paper, ink jetpaper, colored ink jet paper, premium color ink jet paper, photo ink jetpaper, specialty ink jet paper, fax paper, multipurpose paper, coloredpaper, computer paper, stationery, business forms, loose leaf fillerpaper, paper rolls, design paper, specialty paper, presentation paper,colored card stock, fine business paper, card stock, poster stock,construction paper, drawing paper, watercolor paper, satin design paper,tracing paper, newsprint, columnar paper, perforated paper, hole punchedpaper, silk paper, rag paper, carbon paper, napkins, rice paper and artpaper.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheets of flexible materialinclude photograph paper, proof sheets, transparency film, transparencyprotectors/sleeves, laminated sheets, sheet protectors, sheet sleeves,photographs, or a ledger.
 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheets offlexible material are bound together in spaced relation to the void ornotch shapes.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheets of flexiblematerial are located in a multiple ring binder as one or more of pages,dividers, pockets and pouches.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein thesheets of flexible material are releasably held together by a self-sticksubstance.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the sheets in the stackadditionally have alternating void or notch shapes formed for eachchapter or alphabetical letter or section or division of the stack ofsheets.
 10. The device of claim 1 wherein the alternating void or notchshapes have respective first and second contours, the void or notchshapes of the first contour being aligned and the void or notch shapesof the second contour being aligned in offset relation to those of thefirst contour for facilitating tactile discrimination between even andodd sheets of the device.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein the firstcontour includes a generally semicircular arc and the second contourincludes a generally arcuate portion and a generally angled enlargementportion extending away from the alignment of the first contour forfacilitating passage of the user's thumb.
 12. An indexing systemcomprising removal of material from each sheet of stacked material tocreate a void or notch cut inward from the edge of each sheet of thestacked material with alternating alignment on each successive sheet ofstacked material to form an indexing system which allows quick one byone separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, whereinthe alternating alignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2inches and approximately 4 inches for engagement at a correspondingspacing between a user's thumb and finger.
 13. The system of claim 12wherein the alternating alignment is of respective first and second setsof the voids or notches, at least one of the first and second sets beingformed with an outwardly beveled portion extending to the edge of thesheet opposite the other of the first and second sets for facilitatingclearance with the user's thumb.
 14. A method for turning the pages of astack of pages without missing a page, comprising: (a) providing thestack with material removed from each page of the stack to create a voidor notch extending inwardly from the edge of each page with alternatingalignment of the voids or notches on odd and even pages, wherein thealternating alignment is at a spacing of between approximately 2 inchesand approximately 4 inches; (b) placing a thumb in the void or notch ofone of an odd page and an even of the stack and against the next page;(c) turning the one page while holding the thumb or finger against thenext page; (d) placing a finger in the void or notch of the next page ofthe stack and against a succeeding page; (e) turning the next page whileholding the finger against the succeeding page; (f) keeping the thumb inproximate alignment with void or notch alignment of one of the odd andeven pages; (g) keeping the finger in proximate alignment with the voidor notch alignment of the other of the odd and even pages; and (h)alternatively releasing the thumb and the finger from respective nextpages, thereby sequentially turning at least some of the pages of thestack without missing a page.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising using the thumb or finger in the void or notch to depress thenext page through the void or notch; and hooking and/or lifting an edgeportion of the void or notch.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein theturning comprises holding the stack of pages in a curved condition forurging page turning.
 17. Apparatus for forming a hand operated sheetturning device comprising a stack of sheets of flexible material havinga void or notch shape extending inwardly from the edge of each sheet,the void or notch shapes alternating in position with each successivesheet in the stack, comprising: (a) a feeder mechanism for moving sheetmaterial in a feed path; (b) notch die mechanism comprising a die cutterand a die anvil, and means for periodically advancing the die cutterinto engagement with the die anvil from opposite sides of the paperpath; (c) index means for registering a leading edge of the sheetmaterial at alternating offset distances ahead of the notch diemechanism prior to successive operations of the notch die mechanism,whereby successive sheets are formed with alternating alignment of thevoids or notches therein.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: (a) thefeeder mechanism comprises first and second synchronized andcounter-rotating drums on opposite sides of the feed path; (b) the notchdie mechanism further comprises the die cutter being a first die cuttermounted on the first drum and the die anvil being a first die anvilbeing mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement by thefirst die cutter in successive rotations of the drums, a counterpartsecond die cutter being mounted on the first drum in circumferentiallyspaced relation to the first die cutter, and a counterpart second dieanvil being mounted on the second drum in registration for engagement bythe second die cutter; and (c) the index means comprises first andsecond cutter blades mounted transversely on the first drum inrespective different circumferentially advanced relations to the firstand second die cutters, and respective first and second cutter anvilsmounted transversely on the second drum in registration for engagementby the first and second cutter blades in the successive rotations of thedrums, whereby the cutter blades form leading edges of successive pairsof sheets from the sheet material and the die cutters form the voids ornotches with alternating alignment in respective sheets of each pair inthe successive rotations of the drums.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18wherein: (a) the notch die mechanism further comprises counterparts ofthe first and second die cutters mounted in axially spaced relation onthe first drum, and counterparts of the first and second die anvilsbeing correspondingly mounted in axially spaced relation on the seconddrum for forming counterpart voids or notches along opposite side edgesof the sheet material; and (b) the apparatus further comprises a meansfor longitudinally folding formed sheets to form nested pairs of pages.20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: (a) the feeder mechanismcomprises (i) first and second paper trays at opposite sides of the feedpath, the first paper tray being adapted for receiving the sheetmaterial in the form of stacked sheets, the second paper tray beingadapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feed path; and (ii)means synchronized with the notch die mechanism for sequentiallyadvancing a top sheet from the first paper tray into the feed path; and(b) the index means comprises a stop mechanism coupled to the notch diemechanism for periodically blocking leading edges of alternating sheetsat different distances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notchdie mechanism.
 21. The device of claim 20 wherein the means foradvancing of the feeder mechanism comprises: (a) a suction cup mountedfor reciprocal movement relative to the first paper tray between a firstposition proximate a top stacked sheet and a second position laterallydisplaced from the first paper tray and aligned with the feed path, insynchronism with the notch die mechanism; and (b) a source ofintermittent vacuum synchronized with the notch die mechanism and fluidcoupled to the suction cup, the vacuum being applied in the firstposition of the suction cup and released in the second position of thesuction cup.
 22. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein: (a) the feedermechanism comprises (i) first and second paper trays at oppositeextremities of the feed path, the first paper tray being adapted forreceiving the sheet material in the form of stacked sheets, the secondpaper tray being adapted for sequentially receiving sheets from the feedpath; and (ii) means for sequentially advancing a top sheet from thefirst paper tray into the feed path; and (b) the index means comprises acontrol mechanism for positioning and holding successive sheets in thefeed path with leading edges thereof at different predetermineddistances beyond the die cutter and die anvil of the notch die mechanismprior to successive operations thereof.
 23. A device for forming a handoperated sheet turning device comprising a stack of sheets of flexiblematerial having a void or notch shape extending inwardly from the edgeof each sheet, the void or notch shapes alternating in position witheach successive sheet in the stack, comprising: (a) a hand-operatedpunch and die for forming respective ones of the void or notch shapes;and (b) a stop mechanism for locating leading edges of alternatingsheets at respective different distances beyond the void or notch shapesformed by the punch and die.
 24. The device of claim 23 wherein the stopmechanism comprises first and second stop members for locating leadingedges of alternating sheets at respective different distances beyond thepunch and die.
 25. The device of claim 24 wherein the first and secondstop members are movably mounted on a scale member having indiciathereon for showing respective distances between the stop members andthe punch and die.
 26. The device of claim 23 wherein the punch and dieis a first punch and die unit, the device further comprising a secondhand operated punch and die unit laterally spaced from the first punchand die, the stop mechanism comprising a stop member located at a firstdistance from the first punch and die and at a second distance from thesecond punch and die, the difference between the first and seconddistances being the lateral spacing between the first and second punchesand dies.
 27. The device of claim 26 wherein the stop member is movablymounted relative to the first and second punch and die units on a scalemember having indicia thereon for showing a relative distance betweenthe stop member and the punch and die units.
 28. The device of claim 26wherein the first and second punches and dies are configured for formingthe voids or notches with respective first and second contours, thefirst and second contours being different for facilitating tactilediscrimination between even and odd sheets of the device. The firstcontour can include the generally semicircular arc and the secondcontour can include the generally arcuate and angled enlargementportions for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.
 29. The device ofclaim 28 wherein the spacing between the first and second punches anddies is between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches forengagement at a corresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger,and the first contour includes a generally semicircular arc and thesecond contour includes generally arcuate and angled enlargementportions, the angled enlargement portion being opposite the firstcontour for facilitating passage of the user's thumb.
 30. The device ofclaim 26 wherein the spacing between the first and second punches anddies is between approximately 2 inches and approximately 4 inches forengagement at a corresponding spacing between a user's thumb and finger,at least one of the first and second punches and dies being configuredfor forming the voids or notches with an outwardly beveled portionextending to the edge of the sheet opposite the other of the first andsecond punches and dies for facilitating clearance with the user'sthumb.
 31. A process for converting respective sets of sheets havingvoids or notches formed inwardly from each page into a device for one byone separation or turning of each sheet without missing a sheet, thesheets of each set having the notches or voids in matchingconfigurations and offset from the notches or voids of the sheets notincluded in the same set, the process comprising: (a) providing a firstsupply of sheets of a first set of the sheets; (b) providing a secondsupply of sheets of a second set of the sheets; (c) advancing an nthsheet from the first supply in a feed path; (d) advancing an nth+1 sheetfrom the second supply into stacked relation to one surface of the nthsheet; (e) advancing an nth+2 sheet from the first supply into stackedrelation to the nth+1 sheet opposite the nth sheet; and (f) repeating(d) and (e) with n incremented by two in each instance for completingthe device as a stack of sheets having the void or notch shapesalternating in position with each successive sheet in the stack.
 32. Theprocess of claim 31, wherein the first and second supplies of sheetscomprise respective first and second stacks of sheets, the advancing ofthe nth and nth+2 sheets comprising moving the sheets from one end ofthe first stack, and the advancing of the nth+1 sheet comprising movingthe sheets from an opposite end of the second stack.